Crypto News: A city plays matchmaker to boost birth rates

The South Korean city of Seongnam invited hundreds of young singles last year to meet one another at government-hosted dating events, part of a larger effort to boost the country's record-low birth rate. Mayor Shin Sang-jin himself played matchmaker at times.

The initiative, called Solomon's Choice (a play on the words solo and man), has drawn global attention for its bold — if somewhat controversial — approach to the fertility crisis facing many countries. Critics have said that such programs meddle in people's personal affairs without addressing the root causes of the issue, including high housing costs and a grueling work culture. In a conversation for our "Ask a Mayor" series, Shin tells me the events are an entry point to a much more comprehensive strategy the city is pursuing to tackle the challenge. Today on CityLab: A South Korean City Plays Matchmaker to Tackle a Fertility Crisis

— Linda Poon

NY Transit Agency Takes Next Step on Brooklyn-Queens Rail Link
A proposed transit rail line between Brooklyn and Queens is set to undergo a design and environmental review process, a step forward in providing rapid public transportation to the underserved areas of NYC.

The Mayor Helping to Boost Birth Rates in Japan
Yoshiharu Izaki, the mayor of Nagareyama, turned around the town's declining birth rates to buck the national trend with child-friendly policies that are being replicated elsewhere in Japan.

Misinformation Is Turning American Disasters Into Toxic Battlegrounds
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